Sunday, March 31, 2013

AT&T apparently has an 'exclusive' on 64GB HTC One

HTC One

Still no word on pricing for AT&T's HTC One, though

Oh, how we loathe the word "exclusive." For those of us on the editorial side, it's become a bit of a joke. But when a U.S. carrier uses it, it means someone else is probably getting the short end of the stick. In this case, it's anyone not AT&T, which is boasting in a promo video that it's got the "exclusive" on a 64-gigabyte version of the HTC One. (For what it's worth: The storage sizes aren't what's new here -- AT&T announced all that back in February. It's the "exclusive" part that's new.)

That means if you were hoping for the larger storage options on T-Mobile or Sprint, you might not get it, at least not at first. That said, the vast majority of "normal users" (chances are if you're reading this that isn't you) will never come close to hitting that 32GB limit. So, there's that. If you're holding out for a Verizon variant of the HTC One, we'd be willing to bet that 64GB might still be on the table, though. That's up to Big Red, though.

Meanwhile, we still don't have pricing or availability. So in the meantime, be sure to check out our full HTC One review, and swing by the ever-exciting HTC One forums!

And check out AT&T's promo video after the break if that's your thing.

Source: Youtube; via Droid-Life

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/RgjuciqMdsY/story01.htm

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Mama bear? National Zoo artificially inseminates giant panda

Smithsonian's National Zoo / Reuters

Giant panda Mei Xiang looks over a stone wall in her enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in this handout provided by the Smithsonian National Zoo during a spring snow in Washington, D.C. March 25, 2013.

The National Zoo announced Saturday that a team of scientists and veterinarians had artificially inseminated the Zoo's female giant panda after natural breeding failed to occur.

The statement said that Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated with a combination of fresh and frozen semen taken from the zoo's male panda, Tian Tian. The fresh semen was taken earlier Saturday morning, while the frozen semen had been held since 2003.

Scientists determined that Mei Xiang was ready to breed earlier this week after observing a rise in her urinary estrogen levels.

"We are hopeful that our breeding efforts will be successful this year, and we?re encouraged by all the behaviors and hormonal data we?ve seen so far,? Dave Wildt, head of the Center for Species Survival at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute said. "We have an extremely small window of opportunity to perform the procedures, which is why we monitor behavior and hormones so closely.?

Panda pregnancies last between 95 and 160 days. Experts say that it is impossible to determine from behaviors and hormones whether a panda is actually pregnant or not because a fetus does not begin to develop until the final weeks of gestation.

Mei Xiang gave birth to a female cub on September 16 of last year, but the cub died one week later due to lung and liver damage. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have produced one surviving offspring, Tai Shan, who was born in 2005 and currently lives in China.

The panda habitat at the National Zoo has been closed since Tuesday, when Mei Xiang was deemed ready to breed. The Zoo plans to re-open the habitat to visitors Sunday.

NBCWashington.com

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2a2bff9e/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A30C30A0C175298730Emama0Ebear0Enational0Ezoo0Eartificially0Einseminates0Egiant0Epanda0Dlite/story01.htm

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Risk and reward at the dawn of civilian drone age

(AP) ? The dawn of the age of aerial civilian drones is rich with possibilities for people far from the war zones where they made their devastating mark as a weapon of choice against terrorists.

The unmanned, generally small aircraft can steer water and pesticides to crops with precision, saving farmers money while reducing environmental risk. They can inspect distant bridges, pipelines and power lines and find hurricane victims stranded on rooftops.

Drones ? some as tiny as a hummingbird ? promise everyday benefits as broad as the sky is wide. But the drone industry and those eager to tap its potential are running headlong into fears the peeping-eye, go-anywhere technology will be misused.

Since January, drone-related legislation has been introduced in more than 30 states, largely in response to privacy concerns. Many of the bills would prevent police from using drones for broad public surveillance or to watch individuals without sufficient grounds to believe they were involved in crimes.

Stephen Ingley, executive director of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, says resistance to the technology is frustrating. Drones "clearly have so much potential for saving lives, and it's a darn shame we're having to go through this right now," he said.

But privacy advocates say now is the time to debate the proper use of civilian drones and set rules, before they become ubiquitous. Sentiment for curbing domestic drone use has brought the left and right together perhaps more than any other recent issue.

"The thought of government drones buzzing overhead and constantly monitoring the activities of law-abiding citizens runs contrary to the notion of what it means to live in a free society," Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said at a recent hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

With military budgets shrinking, drone makers have been counting on the civilian market to spur the industry's growth. Some companies that make drones or supply support equipment and services say the uncertainty has caused them to put U.S. expansion plans on hold, and they are looking overseas for new markets.

"Our lack of success in educating the public about unmanned aircraft is coming back to bite us," said Robert Fitzgerald, CEO of the BOSH Group of Newport News, Va., which provides support services to drone users.

"The U.S. has been at the lead of this technology a long time," he said. "If our government holds back this technology, there's the freedom to move elsewhere ... and all of a sudden these things will be flying everywhere else and competing with us."

Law enforcement is expected to be one of the bigger initial markets for civilian drones. Last month, the FBI used drones to maintain continuous surveillance of a bunker in Alabama where a 5-year-old boy was being held hostage.

In Virginia, the state General Assembly passed a bill that would place a two-year moratorium on the use of drones by state and local law enforcement. The measure is supported by groups as varied as the American Civil Liberties Union on the left and the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation on the right.

Gov. Bob McDonnell is proposing amendments that would retain the broad ban on spy drones but allow specific exemptions when lives are in danger, such as for search-and rescue operations. The legislature reconvenes on April 3 to consider the matter.

Seattle abandoned its drone program after community protests in February. The city's police department had purchased two drones through a federal grant without consulting the city council.

In Congress, Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., co-chairman of the House's privacy caucus, has introduced a bill that prohibits the Federal Aviation Administration from issuing drone licenses unless the applicant provides a statement explaining who will operate the drone, where it will be flown, what kind of data will be collected, how the data will be used, whether the information will be sold to third parties and the period for which the information will be retained.

Privacy advocates acknowledge the many benign uses of drones. In Mesa County, Colo., for example, an annual landfill survey using manned aircraft cost about $10,000. The county recently performed the same survey using a drone for about $200.

Drones can help police departments find missing people, reconstruct traffic accidents and act as lookouts for SWAT teams. Real estate agents can have them film videos of properties and surrounding neighborhoods, offering clients a better-than-bird's-eye view though one that neighbors may not wish to have shared.

"Any legislation that restricts the use of this kind of capability to serve the public is putting the public at risk," said Steve Gitlin, vice president of AeroVironment, a leading maker of smaller drones.

Yet the virtues of drones can also make them dangerous, privacy advocates say. The low cost and ease of use may encourage police and others to conduct the kind of continuous or intrusive surveillance that might otherwise be impractical.

Drones can be equipped with high-powered cameras and listening devices, and infrared cameras that can see people in the dark.

"High-rise buildings, security fences or even the walls of a building are not barriers to increasingly common drone technology," Amie Stepanovich, director of the Electronic Privacy Information Council's surveillance project, told the Senate panel.

Civilian drone use is limited to government agencies and public universities that have received a few hundred permits from the FAA. A law passed by Congress last year requires the FAA to open U.S. skies to widespread drone flights by 2015, but the agency is behind schedule and it's doubtful it will meet that deadline. Lawmakers and industry officials have complained for years about the FAA's slow progress.

The FAA estimates that within five years of gaining broader access about 7,500 civilian drones will be in use.

Although the Supreme Court has not dealt directly with drones, it has OK'd aerial surveillance without warrants in drug cases in which officers in a plane or helicopter spotted marijuana plants growing on a suspect's property.

But in a case involving the use of ground-based equipment, the court said police generally need a warrant before using a thermal imaging device to detect hot spots in a home that might indicate that marijuana plants are being grown there.

In some states economic concerns have trumped public unease. In Oklahoma, an anti-drone bill was shelved at the request of Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who was concerned it might hinder growth of the state's drone industry. The North Dakota state Senate killed a drone bill in part because it might impede the state's chances of being selected by the Federal Aviation Administration as one of six national drone test sites, which could generate local jobs.

A bill that would have limited the ability of state and local governments to use drones died in the Washington legislature. The measure was opposed by the Boeing Co., which employs more than 80,000 workers in the state and which has a subsidiary, Insitu, that's a leading military drone manufacturer.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., recently drew attention to the domestic use of drones when he staged a Senate filibuster, demanding to know whether the president has authority to use weaponized drones to kill Americans on American soil. The White House said no, if the person isn't engaged in combat. Industry officials worry that the episode could temporarily set back civilian drone use.

"The opposition has become very loud," said Gitlin of AeroVironment, "but we are confident that over time the benefits of these solutions are going to far outweigh the concerns, and they'll become part of normal life in the future."

___

Associated Press writer Michael Felberbaum in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.

___

Follow Joan Lowy on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP_Joan_Lowy

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-30-Everyday%20Drones/id-4f2addef8bcd42028a034dd3c0784cb1

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Social Media Welcome To Reality Online | Pat Selby Coaching Blog

Although other individuals might feel you are basically enjoying the a number of aspects of social networking, the truth of your interest may possibly most likely be tinged with a enterprise concentrate.

What that doesnt imply is that you post merely to leave a traceab?

The use of social media encompasses a broad range of on the web media varieties. Even though some could only assume of a social network like MySpace there are in fact numerous social media formats that include substantial advertising and marketing potential for on the internet company.

Even though others may possibly feel you are basically enjoying the several elements of social networking, the truth of your interest might most likely be tinged with a organization focus.

What that doesnt imply is that you post basically to leave a traceable link back to your organization website. Those who go to any social media web site see via posts that are overtly geared toward marketing and advertising. In numerous situations social media customers view this as spam even if the social network owners do not. In the finish, you can lose credibility of you dont function as a meaningful contributor in a social media atmosphere.

Social media can be presented in a lot of various forms. Lets take a peak at a couple of of them.

YouTube and other comparable video websites These videos can be funny, severe, off the cuff and often political in nature. You can show your business in a humorous light and enable people to be curious about you and your company.

MySpace and other social networks This form of social media is common simply because it draws with each other a number of components of social marketing and tends to make them accessible to the masses of folks that might view social networking as an on the internet version of reality television.

Blogs This is a form of social media if only because it does permit interactive exchanges in between the blogger and the reader.

Forums This can allow you to have an person voice willing to talk about subjects of interest to the majority. As with all social media you can give a link to your web site. If you are viewed as a trusted source you will likely find forum members following you to your site to discover more.

Podcasting This is an audio stream that can enable a visitor to hear a private message from you. This can have a pronounced impact in social advertising.

This isnt an exhaustive list, but it does offer something for you to take into account as an addition to other advertising and marketing tactics you might have in spot. Social media makes it possible for you to take your message to the people and have enjoyable while you share your message.

I cant pressure adequate how important it is to be real. The entire Web community has a low tolerance for supposed spam so make certain you dont use social media as merely an additional type of on the internet advertising.

learn more here social media strategy

Comments

Source: http://patselby.com/blog/social-media-welcome-to-reality-online/

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Friday, March 29, 2013

Sun block for the 'Big Dog'

Thursday, March 28, 2013

An international team of astronomers, including researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and from the University of Cologne, successfully identified two titanium oxides in the extended atmosphere around a giant star. The object VY Canis Major is one of the largest stars in the known universe and close to the end of its life. The detection was made using telescope arrays in the USA and in France.

The discovery was made in the course of a study of a spectacular star, VY Canis Majoris or VY CMa for short, which is a variable star located in the constellation Canis Major (Greater Dog). "VY CMa is not an ordinary star, it is one of the largest stars known, and it is close the end of its life," says Tomasz Kami?ski from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR). In fact, with a size of about one to two thousand times that of the Sun, it could extend out to the orbit of Saturn if it were placed in the centre of our Solar System.

The star ejects large quantities of material which forms a dusty nebula. It becomes visible because of the small dust particles that form around it which reflect light from the central star. The complexity of this nebula has been puzzling astronomers for decades. It has been formed as a result of stellar wind, but it is not understood well why it is so far from having a spherical shape.

Neither is known what physical process blows the wind, i.e. what lifts the material up from the stellar surface and makes it expand. "The fate of VY CMa is to explode as a supernova, but it is not known exactly when it will happen", adds Karl Menten, head of the "Millimetre and Submillimetre Astronomy" Department at MPIfR.

Observations at different wavelengths provide different pieces of information which is characteristic for atomic and molecular gas and from which physical properties of an astronomical object can be derived. Each molecule has a characteristic set of lines, something like a 'bar code', that allows to identify what molecules exist in the nebula.

"Emission at short radio wavelengths, in so-called submillimetre waves, is particularly useful for such studies of molecules", says Sandra Br?nken from the University of Cologne. "The identification of molecules is easier and usually a larger abundance of molecules can be observed than at other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum."

The research team observed TiO and TiO2 for the first time at radio wavelengths. In fact, titanium dioxide has been seen in space unambiguously for the first time. It is known from every-day life as the main component of the commercially most important white pigment (known by painters as "titanium white") or as an ingredient in sunscreens. It is also quite possible that the reader consumed some amounts of it as it is used to colour food (coded as E171 in the labels).

However, stars, especially the coolest of them, are expected to eject large quantities of titanium oxides, which, according to theory, form at relatively high temperatures close to the star. "They tend to cluster together to form dust particles visible in the optical or in the infrared," says Nimesh Patel from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "And the catalytic properties of TiO2 may influence the chemical processes taking place on these dust particles, which are very important for forming larger molecules in space", adds Holger M?ller from the University of Cologne.

Absorption features of TiO have been known from spectra in the visible region for more than a hundred years. In fact, these features are used in part to classify some types of stars with low surface temperatures (M- and S-type stars). The pulsation of Mira stars, one specific class of variable stars, is thought to be caused by titanium oxide. Mira stars, supergiant variable stars in a late stage of their evolution, are named after their prototype star "Mira" (the wonderful) in the constellation of Cetus (the 'sea monster' or the 'whale').

The observations of TiO and TiO2 show that the two molecules are easily formed around VY CMa at a location that is more or less as predicted by theory. It seems, however, that some portion of those molecules avoid forming dust and are observable as gas phase species. Another possibility is that the dust is destroyed in the nebula and releases fresh TiO molecules back to the gas. The latter scenario is quite likely as parts of the wind in VY CMa seem to collide with each other.

The new detections at submillimetre wavelengths are particularly important because they allow studying the process of dust formation. Also, at optical wavelengths, the radiation emitted by the molecules is scattered by dust present in the extended nebula which blurs the picture, while this effect is negligible at radio wavelengths allowing for more precise measurements.

The discoveries of TiO and TiO2 in the spectrum of VY CMa have been made with the Submillimetre Array (SMA), a radio interferometer located at Hawaii, USA. Because the instrument combines eight antennas which worked together as one big telescope 226-meters in size, astronomers were able to make observations at unprecedented sensitivity and angular resolution. A confirmation of the new detections was successively made later with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) located in the French Alps.

###

Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 551, A113 (March 2013). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201220290.

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft: http://www.mpg.de

Thanks to Max-Planck-Gesellschaft for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127502/Sun_block_for_the__Big_Dog_

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Asia stocks modestly higher; Nikkei, yen slip

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets were mostly higher Friday as momentum carried over from yet another record high on Wall Street.

The Standard and Poor's 500 index closed at a record Thursday, driven by more encouraging data on the U.S. economic recovery. The government said the economy grew at an annual rate of 0.4 percent in the October-December quarter, slightly better than previous estimates. The revision reflected stronger business investment and export sales.

South Korea's Kospi rose 0.7 percent to 2,006.41. Mainland China's Shanghai Composite Index added 0.4 percent to 2,244.79. Taiwan's TAIEX also advanced. Markets in Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore for holidays.

In Japan, however, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped marginally to 12,331.44 as the yen leveled off against the dollar and the government released figures for February showing the country's jobless rate edging up while industrial production fell slightly.

Newly appointed central bank governor, Haruhiko Kuroda, has pledged to work with the government to end decades of growth-inhibiting deflation. His outspoken calls for action have raised hopes for results ? but analysts said they may also have created unrealistic expectations for a turnaround.

"Unfortunately, the markets' expectations of the new Governor are so high that they will be almost impossible to meet, let alone beat," said analysts at Capital Economics in a market commentary.

In Europe on Thursday, markets responded positively to the calm reopening of Cyprus's banks. Banks in the Mediterranean island nation were shut for nearly two weeks as the government negotiated a rescue loan from international lenders to prevent the financial system from collapsing. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares, Germany's DAX and France's CAC-40 all closed higher Thursday.

Italy's political uncertainty will also remain in the spotlight. Following inconclusive elections around a month ago, the country is still without a government, and that's raised concerns over its future economic path. Italy is the third-largest economy of the 17 countries that use the euro.

The Standard and Poor's 500 index closed at a record Thursday, surpassing its previous record close of 1,565.15 set in October 2007. The Dow, which surpassed its previous all-time high at the start of the month, also rose.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.4 percent to close at 14,578.54. The S&P 500 advanced 0.4 percent to close at 1,569.19. The Nasdaq composite index added 0.3 percent to 3,267.52. U.S. stock markets will be shut for the Good Friday holiday. Thursday was the last trading day of the first quarter.

The New York Mercantile Exchange, where benchmark oil is traded, was closed for the Good Friday holiday.

In currencies, the euro rose to $1.2827 from $1.2822 late Thursday in New York. The dollar fell to 94.07 yen from 94.13 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asia-stocks-modestly-higher-nikkei-yen-slip-034304357--finance.html

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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Graduate student wins award for designing safer schools

Graduate student wins award for designing safer schools [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 27-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Beth Kuhles
kuhles@shsu.edu
936-294-4425
Sam Houston State University

HUNTSVILLE, TX (3/27/13) -- Cody J. Wortham, a graduate of Sam Houston State University's Security Studies Department, won an international award from the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) Foundation for his research on improving security at schools through low-cost, low-tech architectural design.

The ASIS International Student Writing Competition rewards students who conduct research, engage in thoughtful deliberation and write an academic paper on an issue relevant to the security and assets protection profession. As the graduate category winner, Wortham received $1,500 and complimentary registration at one of the ASIS annual events.

With the advent of school shootings in the 1990s, as well as ongoing natural or manmade disasters, such as fires, bomb threats, tornados and hurricanes, it is imperative to make security the top priority in school design, according to "Designing school security: Low cost/low tech solutions for building a better security plan through architectural design in public schools." To accomplish this, it is critical to have security professionals involved in the planning of new schools or major renovations of existing campuses to present low cost, low tech options to enhance safety, especially in budget-strapped rural areas.

Many schools are designed to be open and to hold the greatest number of students possible, but provide little security or access control. For schools that use sheltering in place in response to crisis, this can result in a "death sentence" because of the large concentration of students in one area as well as the use of large amounts of exposed glass. An example of this was found in the Columbine school massacre, where school officials were unable or unaware of how to lock the library. As a result several students were shot at point black range.

According to a 2009 study of more than 16,000 schools, some security features used in schools were perimeter fencing (16.3%), security cameras (18.7 %), exterior lighting (84.8%), metal detectors (5.1%) and alarms on exteriors doors (14.7%).

While a bunker or prison design may provide ideal security, it is unappealing and impractical. However, security can be incorporated in the design and layout of the building without compromising aesthetics. For example, common areas frequently used by the public, such as cafeterias, auditoriums or performing arts stages, should be located in areas where access can be controlled, and the number of windows in schools should be reduced or placed at higher elevations so they cannot be easily accessed. Wortham suggests that a castle design, similar to the Malbork Castle in Poland that survived several sieges over a 100 year period before it was destroyed by bombing in WWII, is both functional and appealing.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, a theory which relies on building design to deter the majority of potential threats, is also critical to safe schools by allowing for natural surveillance, access control and territorial reinforcement. Neutral colors and natural light sources can help produce calming effects on building occupants and reduce violence, and landscaping and repairs can help dissuade crime and violent behavior.

One of the biggest costs in the design and construction of schools is technology, and security professionals should be consulted because of the rapid evolution of security features in the industry. For example, new remote security link boxes can be installed that allow police or other emergency agencies to connect to existing security cameras remotely. New technology also can be paired with traditional security cameras to identify abandoned or forbidden items, detect individuals in secure areas and alert staff and security to potential threats.

There are several security features than can be added to existing schools to improve safety. Among these are adding security film to windows to prevent shattering and improving sight lines from the central office to hallways.

Wortham presented his proposal not only to his hometown school district in Neches, TX but also to the Houston Chapter of ASIS, which invited representatives from the Houston Independent School District.

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Graduate student wins award for designing safer schools [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 27-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Beth Kuhles
kuhles@shsu.edu
936-294-4425
Sam Houston State University

HUNTSVILLE, TX (3/27/13) -- Cody J. Wortham, a graduate of Sam Houston State University's Security Studies Department, won an international award from the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) Foundation for his research on improving security at schools through low-cost, low-tech architectural design.

The ASIS International Student Writing Competition rewards students who conduct research, engage in thoughtful deliberation and write an academic paper on an issue relevant to the security and assets protection profession. As the graduate category winner, Wortham received $1,500 and complimentary registration at one of the ASIS annual events.

With the advent of school shootings in the 1990s, as well as ongoing natural or manmade disasters, such as fires, bomb threats, tornados and hurricanes, it is imperative to make security the top priority in school design, according to "Designing school security: Low cost/low tech solutions for building a better security plan through architectural design in public schools." To accomplish this, it is critical to have security professionals involved in the planning of new schools or major renovations of existing campuses to present low cost, low tech options to enhance safety, especially in budget-strapped rural areas.

Many schools are designed to be open and to hold the greatest number of students possible, but provide little security or access control. For schools that use sheltering in place in response to crisis, this can result in a "death sentence" because of the large concentration of students in one area as well as the use of large amounts of exposed glass. An example of this was found in the Columbine school massacre, where school officials were unable or unaware of how to lock the library. As a result several students were shot at point black range.

According to a 2009 study of more than 16,000 schools, some security features used in schools were perimeter fencing (16.3%), security cameras (18.7 %), exterior lighting (84.8%), metal detectors (5.1%) and alarms on exteriors doors (14.7%).

While a bunker or prison design may provide ideal security, it is unappealing and impractical. However, security can be incorporated in the design and layout of the building without compromising aesthetics. For example, common areas frequently used by the public, such as cafeterias, auditoriums or performing arts stages, should be located in areas where access can be controlled, and the number of windows in schools should be reduced or placed at higher elevations so they cannot be easily accessed. Wortham suggests that a castle design, similar to the Malbork Castle in Poland that survived several sieges over a 100 year period before it was destroyed by bombing in WWII, is both functional and appealing.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, a theory which relies on building design to deter the majority of potential threats, is also critical to safe schools by allowing for natural surveillance, access control and territorial reinforcement. Neutral colors and natural light sources can help produce calming effects on building occupants and reduce violence, and landscaping and repairs can help dissuade crime and violent behavior.

One of the biggest costs in the design and construction of schools is technology, and security professionals should be consulted because of the rapid evolution of security features in the industry. For example, new remote security link boxes can be installed that allow police or other emergency agencies to connect to existing security cameras remotely. New technology also can be paired with traditional security cameras to identify abandoned or forbidden items, detect individuals in secure areas and alert staff and security to potential threats.

There are several security features than can be added to existing schools to improve safety. Among these are adding security film to windows to prevent shattering and improving sight lines from the central office to hallways.

Wortham presented his proposal not only to his hometown school district in Neches, TX but also to the Houston Chapter of ASIS, which invited representatives from the Houston Independent School District.

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/shsu-gsw032713.php

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Pope reluctant to be pope: What does it mean?

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? He still goes by "Bergoglio" when speaking to friends, seems reluctant to call himself pope and has decided to live in the Vatican hotel rather than the grand papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace.

It might seem as if Pope Francis is in a bit of denial over his new job as leader of the world's 1.2-billion Catholics. Or perhaps he's simply changing the popular idea of what it means to be pope, keeping the no-frills style he cultivated as archbishop of Buenos Aires in ways that may have broad implications for the church.

The world has already seen how Francis has cast aside many trappings of the papacy, refusing to don the red velvet cape Benedict XVI wore for official occasions and keeping the simple, iron-plated pectoral cross he used as bishop and archbishop.

On Thursday, his belief that a pope's job is to serve the world's lowliest will be on display when he washes the feet of a dozen young inmates at a juvenile detention center in Rome. Previous popes have celebrated the Holy Thursday ritual, which re-enacts Christ's washing of his disciples' feet before his crucifixion, by washing the feet of priests in one of Rome's most ornate basilicas.

Such moves hint, even at this early stage, only two weeks into his papacy, at an apparent effort by Francis to demystify the office of pope.

Unlike his predecessors, he doesn't sign his name "Pope Francis," ending his official correspondence simply "Francis."

To those closest he is still Bergoglio, and this week, Italian state radio broadcast a voice mail he left wishing a friend Happy Birthday. "It's Bergoglio," the pope said, using the surname he was born with.

Even on Day One, Francis didn't acknowledge he was pope.

Speaking on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after his election the night of March 13, Francis told the tens of thousands gathered there that the cardinals' task during the conclave had been to "give Rome a bishop."

And bishop of Rome is the title he has emphasized repeatedly ever since ? not vicar of Christ, or any of his other official titles.

"I do think there is something about trying to reduce the awesomeness, the grandeur and majesty of the papacy," said John Allen Jr., Vatican columnist for the National Catholic Reporter. "Part of this is just his personality. He's never liked pomp and circumstance."

Indeed. Even after he became Argentina's top church official in 2001, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio never lived in the ornate church mansion that Pope John Paul II stayed in when visiting, preferring simple rooms in a downtown building, warmed by a small stove on frigid weekends when the heat was turned off. He did his own cooking and rode the bus to get around town.

In that same vein, Francis announced this week that he wasn't moving into the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace and would stay instead in the Vatican's Santa Marta residence, the antiseptically clean, institutional-style hotel where he and the 114 cardinals who elected him pope were sequestered during the conclave.

Calling the hotel home, Francis indicated that he wants to live in a community with ordinary folk, not the gilded cage of the Apostolic Palace.

He will eat in the common dining room as he has for the past two weeks, and celebrate 7 a.m. Mass in the hotel chapel as he has each day, inviting Vatican gardeners, street sweepers, hotel workers and newspaper staff to attend.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the decision to stay put in the hotel had been taken "for now."

"We'll see how it works," he said.

In one concession, Francis did move in recent days from the hotel's cramped Room 207, where he had stayed as cardinal, into Room 201, the larger papal suite, which has a study and sitting room to receive guests. The furnishings are a step up from the simple fare of the rest of the hotel: dark wood armoires and a bed with a matching headboard carved with an image of Christ's face.

Francis' initial refusal to move into the hotel's papal suite is perhaps understandable, given the reluctance with which he accepted the job in the first place.

On Wednesday, the Vatican revealed what Francis said in the Sistine Chapel when he was formally asked if he accepted the outcome of the vote. "I am a big sinner. Trusting in the mercy and patience of God, in suffering, I accept," he answered.

The decision not to take up residence in the Apostolic Palace might also signal a desire to keep his distance from the dysfunctional Vatican government Francis has inherited. One of his major tasks will be to rid the Vatican bureaucracy of the mismanagement, petty turf battles and allegations of corruption that were revealed in leaks of papal documents last year.

Francis does go to work each day at his "office" in the Apostolic Palace, where he meets with various Vatican officials. He uses the ornate Clementine Hall for larger audiences, such as his first formal addresses to representatives of the world's religions and the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

In his March 20 audience with religious leaders, Francis sent an important signal about his view of the papacy and its relationship with other Christians. He addressed the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, as "my brother" ? a fraternal nod to a church that split from Rome 1,000 years ago and has remained separated in part over disputes about the primacy of the pope.

To make that message abundantly clear, Francis' chair was on the ground ? the same level as all the other religious leaders ? and not on a raised platform. Two days later, when Francis greeted diplomats accredited to the Holy See, his chair was up on a platform.

"To have a simpler view, less grandiose sense of the trappings of the papacy might be saying, 'I want to be able to relate to you at a different level,'" said Anton Vrame of the Greek Orthodox archdiocese in the U.S.

Francis' gestures, choices and emphasis were clearly an indication of his personality and the simplicity for which Jesuits are known, Vrame said.

"Is it a further simplification of the papacy that we've seen over the years? Potentially. It remains to be seen," he said.

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-reluctant-pope-does-mean-223211212.html

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Planning & Preparing For Your Big Island Family Vacation

Royal Kona Resort on Hawaii wants all its visitors to have a safe and happy time, which is why it is publishing several articles on its website for present and future visitors. The articles will offer a checklist and a number of sensible suggestions from Royal Kona management and staff about planning and enjoying a Hawaii family vacation.

The first article concerns the preparation stage, and contains a list of must-bring items that prospective tourists and vacationers will sorely miss if they forget to pack them. Vacationers are encouraged to bring plenty of beach clothes such as swimsuits, shorts and tank tops, as well as a hat to protect them from the intense tropical sun. Sunscreen is a must, lest one wakes up one sunny breezy morning with one's skin on fire and a very large down-draft to any further joy and mobility.

Counter-intuitively, it can also be useful to pack a warm coat, jacket and other well-insulated clothes - these will come in useful if you are interested in visiting Mauna Kea. The mountain tops out at almost 14,000 feet above sea level, and it can get rather chilly at even half that altitude.

Visitors are also urged to make copies of credit card information, as well as identification and other important documents. With the mainland thousands of miles away, the loss of a wallet can be a rather significant inconvenience; while local authorities are competent and friendly, having back-ups of as much paperwork as possible will ensure a much easier time for you if anything happens to your ID or payment methods.

The article also discusses when it's appropriate to rent a car for increased mobility on the Big Island. True to its name, it's a fairly sizable place, and if you'd like to go afield of Kailua-Kona and are interested in exploring some of the island's far-flung wonders, a rental vehicle will give you much more flexibility and cost far less than a taxi service. It may be a good idea to inquire about availability and make reservations in advance, rather than hoping to find a car on arrival - Hawaii is always a happening place, and you're not always guaranteed to find a vehicle.

There is a number of other suggestions in the article - on good places to find food, such as Royal Kona's famous Don the Beachcomber restaurant; places to get the signature Hawaiian drink Mai Tai, transportation to the nearest shopping district and many more.

The staff of Royal Kona is happy to help everyone plan a great Hawaii family vacation that will go off without a hitch and leave every visitor with a smile and a bevy of glowing memories.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Planning---Preparing-For-Your-Big-Island-Family-Vacation/4505789

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Monday, March 25, 2013

Smithsonian scientists use DNA to quickly unravel relationship between plants and insects

Smithsonian scientists use DNA to quickly unravel relationship between plants and insects [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 25-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: John Gibbons
gibbonsjp@si.edu
202-633-5187
Smithsonian

Studying the relationship between plants and the insects that feed on them is an arduous task, as it must be done through direct observation. It can take years for a researcher to fully understand the diets of a community of herbivorous insects in a tropical rain forest. Now, five Smithsonian scientists are paving a fast track using the DNA found inside the insects' stomachs, potentially turning years of research into months. This method will help scientists understand the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions more efficiently. Their findings are published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Plants and insects comprise about 50 percent of all known species on Earth, forming the critical foundation of biodiversity in most terrestrial ecosystems. This study focused on 20 species of rolled leaf beetles in Costa Rica and 33 species of flowering plants in the order Zingiberales that the beetles eat and lay eggs on almost exclusively.

Using specialized DNA extraction methods the scientists obtained a mix of DNA both from the actual insect and from the insect's stomach contents. They used DNA markers specific to animals to obtain DNA barcodes for each insect species and markers specific to plants to identify the plant species in each insect's diet.

"What makes this study unique is that we developed DNA extraction techniques and full DNA barcode libraries that allowed us to identify host plants to the species level," said Carlos Garca-Robledo, a post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian and lead author of the study. "Another unique feature of this study is that we invested several years in the field identifying the diets of insect herbivores using direct observations. This baseline data allowed us for the first time to test the accuracy of DNA barcodes to identify insect diets."

Matched against the data gathered from prior direct observation, the information derived from this DNA stomach-content study was nearly identical, yet had taken only fraction of the time and effort.

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Smithsonian scientists use DNA to quickly unravel relationship between plants and insects [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 25-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: John Gibbons
gibbonsjp@si.edu
202-633-5187
Smithsonian

Studying the relationship between plants and the insects that feed on them is an arduous task, as it must be done through direct observation. It can take years for a researcher to fully understand the diets of a community of herbivorous insects in a tropical rain forest. Now, five Smithsonian scientists are paving a fast track using the DNA found inside the insects' stomachs, potentially turning years of research into months. This method will help scientists understand the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions more efficiently. Their findings are published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Plants and insects comprise about 50 percent of all known species on Earth, forming the critical foundation of biodiversity in most terrestrial ecosystems. This study focused on 20 species of rolled leaf beetles in Costa Rica and 33 species of flowering plants in the order Zingiberales that the beetles eat and lay eggs on almost exclusively.

Using specialized DNA extraction methods the scientists obtained a mix of DNA both from the actual insect and from the insect's stomach contents. They used DNA markers specific to animals to obtain DNA barcodes for each insect species and markers specific to plants to identify the plant species in each insect's diet.

"What makes this study unique is that we developed DNA extraction techniques and full DNA barcode libraries that allowed us to identify host plants to the species level," said Carlos Garca-Robledo, a post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian and lead author of the study. "Another unique feature of this study is that we invested several years in the field identifying the diets of insect herbivores using direct observations. This baseline data allowed us for the first time to test the accuracy of DNA barcodes to identify insect diets."

Matched against the data gathered from prior direct observation, the information derived from this DNA stomach-content study was nearly identical, yet had taken only fraction of the time and effort.

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/s-ssu032513.php

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Hamm divorce could be most expensive of all time

ABC News' Steve Osunsami contributed to this report:

It's the divorce that could split up control of America's fastest growing oil company and lead to a record-breaking paycheck for the wife who claims her husband cheated.

Harold Hamm, 67, who ranks No. 35 on Forbes' list of richest Americans, is a self-made man worth more than $11 billion.

Sue Ann Hamm, 56, Harold's second wife, filed for divorce on May 19, 2012, claiming that she discovered he was having an affair in 2010, eventually prompting her to end their nearly 25-year marriage.

Hamm was the senior energy advisor on Mitt Romney's presidential campaign and is so wealthy that the candidate allegedly shied away from appearing in public with him. An industry leader, Hamm is a promoter of fracking - the business of squeezing oil out of rocks in places like North Dakota.

The divorce could award Sue Ann Hamm's part of Harold Hamm's 68 percent stake in Continental Resources - the oil company he and his wife built together.

"This is clearly going to be watched on Main Street as well as Wall Street, and internationally," Su Keenan at Bloomberg told ABC News.

After details of the divorce were leaked, Continental issued a statement to help calm any nervous investors claiming that the divorce "is not anticipated to have any impact or effect on the Company's business or operations."

It is not yet known whether or not a prenuptial agreement exists and this could become the biggest War of the Roses in the divorce hall of fame.

Top 5 Settlements in the Divorce Hall of Fame:

1. Rupert and Anna Murdoch $1.7 billion

2. Bernie and Slavica Ecclestone $1-1.2 billion

3. Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi $874 million

4. Craig and Wendy McCaw $460 million

5. Mel and Robyn Gibson $425 Million

Also Read

Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/hamm-divorce-could-most-expensive-time-191806531--abc-news-topstories.html

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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Skydive instructor, student killed in Fla. jumps

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) ? An investigation has opened into the weekend deaths of a skydiving instructor and a student, both from Iceland, who died during jumps with a group in Florida, a law enforcement official said.

The two men took part with 20 other people Saturday in skydiving jumps from a plane in Zephyrhills, about 30 miles northeast of Tampa, said Pasco County sheriff's spokeswoman Melanie Snow. They were reported missing, touching off an hours-long search on Saturday.

Snow said an air-and-ground search was begun when only 20 of the 22 skydivers returned from their jumps late Saturday morning. The bodies were discovered by spotters from the air early Saturday evening in woods south of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.

Snow would not comment whether the parachutes of the skydivers had opened, saying that was part of the investigation.

She identified the victims as 41-year-old instructor Orvar Arnarson and 25-year-old student Andrimar Pordarson. No hometowns were given. The men did not take part in a tandem jump but two separate jumps, Snow said without elaborating.

She added that the men were reported missing on their third round of jumps Saturday about 10:30 a.m. Saturday and that their bodies were spotted later after search teams scoured a large area, focused mostly south of the municipal airport.

She said the teams were instructed to look for the men and their chutes, one green-and-white and the parachute blue-and gray.

Authorities said the skydivers were part of a jump outing through Skydive City in Zephyrhills.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/skydive-instructor-student-killed-fla-jumps-103931832.html

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Has Obama's Mideast trip changed the game on the ground?

President Obama wrapped up his four-day visit to the Middle East after helping Israel and Turkey end a three-year diplomatic dispute. That, in turn, will help the region deal with the civil war in Syria. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

By Martin Fletcher, Correspondent, NBC News

News analysis

TEL AVIV ? The verdict among Israeli pundits was unanimous: if President Barack Obama was an Israeli politician, he'd be a shoo-in to lead the liberal left.

His call for the Israeli government to halt Jewish settlement building in the West Bank, for a Palestinian state, his recognition of Israel's historical claim to the land and his demand for a secure Israel, is all straight out of the playbook of what remains of Israel's left.


His speech to Israeli students Thursday, who were carefully vetted to make sure they were in political agreement with him, was greeted numerous times by applause and a few standing ovations. And while many Israelis may have disagreed with the content of the speech, Obama's sincerity was felt by all.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

US President Barack Obama, left, listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their visit to the Children's Memorial at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, Israel, on Friday.

Obama drew a clear parallel between the Passover story of Jewish slaves fleeing Egypt and fighting for their rights, and the African-American struggle out of slavery and fight for their rights. That bond of shared experience, and the genuineness of his feelings, really came through.

So when Obama insisted that "all options are on the table" to stop Iran's nuclear program, he sounded convincing. And when he moved on to demand that Israel stop building settlements and make tough decisions to reach peace with the Palestinians, his words met with a more receptive audience.

For many Israelis, Obama won their hearts and their minds, but as one said to this reporter: "What now?"

Any closer to peace talks?
Are Israel and the Palestinians closer to peace talks than they were before Obama came? Did the fine words add up to momentum?

That will be up to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to discover when he returns to Jerusalem Saturday to try, as so many have before him, to kick-start the peace process.?

President Obama spoke to an audience of more than 2,000 Israeli citizens at the Jerusalem Convention Center and stressed the necessity of peace between Israel and Palestine.

Overall, Obama's message had something for everyone.

The first half of Obama's speech, in which he confirmed Israel's right to the land, pleased Israel's right wing. The second half, in which he called for compromise with the Palestinians and a Palestinian state, pleased the left wing.

When he said this is a Jewish democratic state, Jews were thrilled and Palestinians were furious.

When he said Israel will not survive as a Jewish democratic state with settlements on Palestinian land, Palestinians were thrilled and many Israelis were furious.

But after trying to be all things to all people, Obama departed leaving behind a question: What just happened? Was there any American commitment to get started with the talks?

Israelis charmed, Palestinians insulted
The answer is: no. The message was: we are here to help, but first you have to do the work. In other words, nothing changed, beyond people?s impression of Obama as a leader.

Israelis were encouraged that Obama really does like them; Operation Charm worked.

But Palestinians were left fuming, and many say they were insulted.

President Obama, alongside and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, says the U.S. remains "deeply committed" to the creation of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine.

They complained that he mentioned a Jewish rocket victim by name, but didn?t mention any of the many Palestinian victims, or the approximately 4,500 prisoners in Israeli jails. He visited the grave of two Israeli icons, Theodor Herzl and Yitzhak Rabin, but refused even to walk by the shrine to Yasser Arafat. He did not repeat the Palestinian demand that Israel stop building settlements as a condition for peace talks.

In short, Palestinians got very little, and Israel got a bit more.

At least, that's what the public saw.

Big brother still calling the shots
There was at least one big surprise from the backroom talks between Obama and Netanyahu that should go a long way toward improving frayed ties between two important U.S. allies in the region.?

After three years of refusing to do so, Netanyahu called his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan Friday to apologize for "any error" that may have led to the deaths of nine Turkish activists during a 2010 raid on a boat off the Gaza Strip.

The two agreed to normalize relations ? a major breakthrough. It means the two big U.S. allies can now resume military cooperation, which should help to contain the spillover of the Syrian civil war in the region ? and lessen Israel's isolation in the volatile region.

What isn't known yet is what was agreed to behind closed doors about how to deal with the twin threats of Iran and Syria.

In the press conference that followed their discussions, both sides seemed satisfied with the current degree of military and intelligence cooperation on both subjects.

But did Obama leave with the certainty that Israel would not interfere with the American timetable for dealing with the Iranian threat?

We don?t know more than we knew before, which is that impatient little Israel can't do much without their more patient bigger brother.?

But at least, after this visit by the American president, the brotherly relationship appears more credible than before.

?

Related:

Israel's Netanyahu apologizes to Turkey over deadly flotilla raid

Photo Blog: Obama wraps up Holy Land visit at Bethlehem church after Holocaust tribute

Obama visits a Bethlehem in midst of change, Islamization

Obama appeals to Israelis: Give justice to the Palestinians

Iran threatens to destroy Tel Aviv, Haifa if Israel attacks

Obama: 'Still time' for diplomatic solution to Iran nuke dispute

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Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/29e8042a/l/0Lworldnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A30C230C174171340Ehas0Eobamas0Emideast0Etrip0Echanged0Ethe0Egame0Eon0Ethe0Eground0Dlite/story01.htm

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Oklahoma, McFarland stop Central Michigan 78-73

Oklahoma's Sharane Campbell, left, and Joanna McFarland celebrate during the second half of a first-round game against Central Michigan in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Oklahoma beat Central Michigan 78-73. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Oklahoma's Sharane Campbell, left, and Joanna McFarland celebrate during the second half of a first-round game against Central Michigan in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Oklahoma beat Central Michigan 78-73. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Central Michigan's Crystal Bradford, right, drives to the basket against Oklahoma's Sharane Campbell during the first half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Oklahoma's Joanna McFarland, right, tries to dribble past Central Michigan's Crystal Bradford during the second half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Oklahoma beat Central Michigan 78-73. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Oklahoma's Aaryn Ellenberg takes a shot against Central Michigan during the second half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Oklahoma beat Central Michigan 78-73. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Oklahoma's Morgan Hook, right, drives to the basket against Central Michigan's Crystal Bradford during the second half of a first-round game in the women's NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Oklahoma beat Central Michigan 78-73. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

(AP) ? Joanna McFarland stepped in when no one else would for Oklahoma, then Aaryn Ellenberg waited until the right moment to take over.

McFarland had 18 points and a career-high 17 rebounds and Ellenberg scored 18 of her 22 points in the second half Saturday to lead the Sooners to a 78-73 victory over Central Michigan in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

They made for quite a lethal tandem.

"She's just a beast," CMU coach Sue Guevara said of 6-foot-3 McFarland.

Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said of Ellenberg, her 3-point specialist: "That's how she plays. The points come in fits and starts. She calmed down, let the game come to her and found her spots."

Sixth-seeded Oklahoma (23-10) advances to Monday night's second-round game against the winner of Stetson and UCLA at Ohio State's St. John Arena.

It was clear who the Sooners wanted to play.

"We'd definitely like to see UCLA advance," McFarland said.

The Bruins came to Norman, Okla., on Nov. 14 and thoroughly outplayed the home team in an 86-80 victory. The Sooners have not forgotten.

As if that weren't enough motivation, the Sooners know that if the survive the two rounds in Columbus, they would return to nearby Oklahoma City to play in the regional next week.

Despite 24 turnovers, the Sooners had just enough to hold off the Chippewas (21-12), who were making their third trip to the NCAA and first since 1984. Crystal Bradford had a sensational game for CMU with a career-high 36 points (on 14 of 31 shooting from the field) plus 14 rebounds and seven steals.

"I was playing with everything I've got," said the sophomore, who averaged 15.5 points during the season. "It hurt more to give it all and come up short."

Ellenberg, who held Oklahoma's season (103) and career (272) records for 3-pointers made, hit 4 of 5 in the second half to rally her team, which was struggling to hold onto the lead. She hit three in a row during one span for the Sooners. With 3:11 left and late in the shot clock, she hit another to extend the lead to 71-60.

"When they got close, we knew we had to gather ourselves," Ellenberg said. "We were not going to give up the lead."

Every time CMU would draw close, it seemed, the Sooners would get a key bucket from either McFarland or Ellenberg. The lead waffled between nine points but as few as two for most of the second half, with the teams trading runs.

Ellenberg's three 3s in the middle of the second half allowed Oklahoma to hold off CMU, which had drawn to 49-47 on a three-point play by Bradford. When her third 3 caught nothing but net, it gave the Sooners a 58-49 lead.

Still, the Chippewas fought back to 73-68 with just over a minute left on a floater by Brandie Baker, who had 12 points, but they could get no closer.

"We kept coming back," Guevara said. "We had wide-open shots, but they just didn't go."

Amazingly, Central Michigan had 31 more shots from the field (84-53) but made only 31 percent to the Sooners' 47 percent.

Oklahoma put the game away on two foul shots apiece by Morgan Hook and Sharane Campbell and one by Ellenberg in the final 25 seconds.

Oklahoma, making its 16th trip to the NCAA and 14th in a row, has won its first-round games eight years in a row. The Sooners suffered a blow that might have crippled many teams when they lost their top player, senior guard Whitney Hand, to a knee injury on Dec. 6.

"Central Michigan gave us all we could handle and then some," Coale said. "Crystal Bradford was unbelievable all day long. But our kids took their best shot and weathered it. We just find a way to win. That's been the identity of this squad all season long and we did it again today."

___

Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rustymillerap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-03-23-BKW-NCAA-Cent-Michigan-Oklahoma/id-0071f5f18f674f9e9b7d1c5eb58874b4

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

US, Afghanistan OK detention center transfer

FILE ? This March 23, 2011, file photo shows Afghan detainees through a wire mesh fence inside the Parwan detention facility near Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. Saturday, March 23, 2013, the Pentagon said the U.S. has reached an agreement with the Afghanistan government to transfer the facility to Afghan control. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday as officials finalized the agreement after days of intense negotiations. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File)

FILE ? This March 23, 2011, file photo shows Afghan detainees through a wire mesh fence inside the Parwan detention facility near Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. Saturday, March 23, 2013, the Pentagon said the U.S. has reached an agreement with the Afghanistan government to transfer the facility to Afghan control. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday as officials finalized the agreement after days of intense negotiations. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File)

FILE ? This Sept. 27, 2010, file photo reviewed by the U.S. military, shows a U.S. military guard walking a corridor between detainee cells at the Parwan detention facility near Bagram, north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Saturday, March 23, 2013, the Pentagon said the U.S. has reached an agreement with the Afghanistan government to transfer the facility to Afghan control. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday as officials finalized the agreement after days of intense negotiations. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, File)

FILE ? In this March 23, 2011, file photo a U.S. military guard watches over detainee cells inside the Parwan detention facility near Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. Saturday, March 23, 2013, the Pentagon said the U.S. has reached an agreement with the Afghanistan government to transfer the facility to Afghan control. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday as officials finalized the agreement after days of intense negotiations. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The U.S. has reached an agreement with the Afghanistan government to transfer the Parwan Detention Facility to Afghan control, the Pentagon said Saturday, two weeks after negotiations broke down over whether the U.S. would have the power to block the release of some detainees.

According to a senior U.S. official, a key element to the agreement is that the Afghans can invoke a procedure that insures prisoners considered dangerous would not be released from the detention center. The agreement also includes a provision that allows the two sides to work together to resolve any differences. The official lacked authorization to discuss the details of the agreement publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Transfer of the Parwan detention center on Monday is critical to the ongoing effort to gradually shift control of the country's security to the Afghans as the U.S. and allies move toward the full withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2014.

Afghans demanded control of the center, but U.S. officials have worried that the most threatening detainees would be freed once the U.S. transferred control. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday as officials finalized the agreement after days of intense negotiations.

The senior official said U.S. and Afghan officials who are familiar with the detainees would meet to assess the potential danger of their release to coalition forces. The official said that more senior level officials could be brought in if there are disagreements but that to date the two sides have been able to agree without bringing in those higher authorities.

Disagreements over the detention facility, which also included whether Afghans can be held without trial, had thrown a pall over the ongoing negotiations for a bilateral security agreement that would govern the presence of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after 2014.

Currently, there is an Afghan administrator of the Parwan prison, but the Americans have power to veto the release of detainees. The prisoners held under American authority do not have the right to a trial because the U.S. considers them part of an ongoing conflict.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said Hagel "welcomed President Karzai's commitment that the transfer will be carried out in a way that ensures the safety of the Afghan people and coalition forces by keeping dangerous individuals detained in a secure and humane manner in accordance with Afghan law."

Last weekend Hagel spoke with Karzai, and officials said the two men agreed to resolve the thorny issue within a week.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, has also been working to resolve the matter ? one of several divisive issues that soured relations between the U.S., its allies and the Afghans in recent weeks.

The U.S. had been scheduled to hold a ceremony marking the transfer of control two weeks ago, during Hagel's first visit to Afghanistan as defense secretary. That ceremony was called off after negotiations broke down.

In addition to disputes over the Parwan facility, the U.S.-led coalition and Afghans have wrangled over several other difficult issues. Last month, Karzai insisted that the coalition forces cease all airstrikes, after a NATO assault caused civilian casualties.

More recently, Karzai demanded that U.S. special operations forces leave Wardak province after allegations that U.S. commandos and their Afghan partners abused local citizens. Dunford has denied the charges.

Earlier this week, the two sides reached an agreement on the Wardak issue. Dunford agreed to remove a team of commandos from Wardak's Nirkh district and transition security of that area to the Afghans as soon as possible.

U.S. special operations forces would remain in other parts of the restive province, while the coalition continues to work to transition those areas also to the Afghans.

U.S. officials have made no final decision on how many troops might remain in Afghanistan after 2014, although they have said as many as many as 12,000 U.S. and coalition forces could remain.

There currently are 66,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, down from a 2010 peak of 100,000.

___

Lolita C. Baldor can be followed on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lbaldor

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-23-US-Afghanistan/id-1499db3a689a4c18ba6a073e6239febb

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